Life has been pretty busy at my house in the last few weeks. Kids activities, including soccer practices, track meets, theater rehearsals, and guests from Germany, birthdays, vet appointments, you name it, I am sure it could be found on my overflowing calender.
On crazy weeknight days I am always happy to fall back on a dinner, which I can make ahead or just pull out of the freezer like today’s featured pasta bake.
This pasta bake has been a family favorite for many years. I have a picture of my son 1 1/2 years of age sitting on my lap and picking the peas to eat out of the pasta bake. Combining rigatoni, peas and a semi homemade Bolognese sauce, topped with Gruyere cheese and finished in the oven this pasta bake turns out tasty, hot and bubbly. Serve it with some fresh green salad on the side for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Enjoy!
| Our Favorite Pasta Bake | | Print |
- 1 pound (500 g) organic, grass fed ground beef
- 1 jar ( 40 oz, 1 kg) organic marinara sauce, homemade or your favorite store bought
- salt
- pepper
- oregano
- 17.6 oz (500 g) organic pasta, I use penne ziti rigate
- 2 cups (250 g) organic frozen peas
- Gruyere cheese, shredded
- Cook pasta in salted water until cooked al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
- In a bigger pan on high heat cook the ground beef, season with salt and pepper. Add marinara sauce and season with oregano. Set aside.
- In a bigger bowl combine pasta, marinara sauce with beef and peas. Mix well.
- Divide pasta mix in 6 - 8 individual baking dishes or in one 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Top with shredded Gruyere. (At this point you can freeze or refrigerate the dish for later usage.)
- Bake in the oven at 400 F until the cheese is melted and the pasta bake is hot and bubbly about 30 minutes.
{ 15 comments }
Question- if I were to freeze for later use.. Do I defrost or does it go straight into the oven; also does the cooking times change?
Thank you! This looks delish!!
You could put it straight in the oven, but make sure to cover the dish with aluminum foil, to keep the moisture in and prevent the top from browning too much.
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I am a pasta lover and this one looks so yummy. I wouldn’t wait to try it now
i made this tonight and it was AMAZING! hubby said it was a must again !!!!!!!
This looks wonderfully GOOD! I MUST try this!
Dieses Gericht war der absolute Hit als Kind, wenn wir zum Italiener gegangen sind….und dabei so einfach und gut zum Selberkochen. Unnd das neue Design der Seite gefaellt mir gut.
This is comfort food at its best! And so easy to prepare with purchased sauce. My favorite is Newman’s Own Marinara. Love the addition of the peas.
Looks great! I will try it using Dreamfields pasta to keep an eye on the carbohydrates.
I wish I had a bowl of that right now! … for breakfast! 🙂
Oh boy, does this ever look delicious. No wonder is this a family favorite. A real bonus is, it is all done in baking dish.
This pasta looks sooooo good! I could eat pasta every day of the week–it’s so comforting. I will definitely be making this one very soon.
This sounds yummy! I love all that melted cheese in the top, simply delicious!
Happy week
This kind of pasta dish is JUST what my husband loves! I like that you used Gruyere instead of a more traditional mozzarella and bet that gives it a wonderful flavor. Will see you for lunch tomorrow!
That baked pasta looks absolutely delicious. I am craving it right now!!!
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